Lepers on the Rise?

     The World Health Organization (WHO) recently expressed its alarm over the rising leprosy cases here in the Philippines. Leprosy or locally called  "ketong" is a tropical disease mainly affecting the skin and nerves that can cause tissue change and in severe cases , loss of sensation and disfigurement of the victim.Leprosy is transmitted following close contact with an infected person and has an incubation period of 1-30 years. Although it is a serious disease it can now be cured if treated with a combination of drugs.

     The Department of Health of this country (they should have named it Department of Death if you ask me) admitted that it had neglected (as usual) the treatment of leprosy for many years now and vowed to prevent its spread. Yeah, sure. The Government is always quick to say this every time an international agency calls their attention on something. What have these Government Agencies been doing all these years? Just sitting on their asses and using up their yearly budget on useless things and for their personal benefits!

     Everything here is being neglected by the Government, except their deep pockets. Tuberculosis cases and fatalities are on the rise among poor folks; malnutrition and other affliction are not being monitored and treated. Despite the billions of pesos worth of budget allocated to these agencies every year, Filipinos are still sick and dying of these common and curable illnesses. Why? Because these Government Agencies and Personnel always misuse the funds intended for the poor folks.

     Most of the funds are used to construct buildings, offices and in buying service vehicles of the personnel but every time the sick people go to these Government Hospitals, treatment or medicines are not available. We have lots of newly made public hospitals but it's useless because there are no medications or doctors for the sick people. The Politicians and the Government Heads make more money on constructing new buildings than in serving the citizenry. Their deep pockets come first and the welfare of the public comes last.

     It's simple GRAFT AND CORRUPTION at work, that's the bottom line why thousands or millions of poor Filipinos are still suffering from antiquated diseases which are easily treatable with modern and cheap medicines. These government personnel and doctors who swore an oath to help cure the community but end up stealing the funds for their own benefits, they have no shame or conscience. May they all burn in hell!